Reflecting on 20 years masking swimming by means of anniversary boys ‘dual team’

Last week on this area, I marked my twentieth anniversary masking highschool swimming and diving for The News-Herald by compiling a legendary twin group on the women facet.

Now it’s time to determine the boys group.

Not to be repetitive with final week, however for many who missed the parameters there and might have a refresher: If I might assemble a group for a legendary twin meet from each News-Herald protection space swimmer I’ve lined over the past 20 years, utilizing a time machine to move them from their highschool prime and three per particular person occasion, who would make the minimize?

Again, that is for swimmers from present News-Herald protection space faculties solely. Also, we’re solely discussing the final 20 years — the swimmers who positioned and carried out the most effective on the state meet since 2007. NOT all time. And lastly, to include extra swimmers on this “team,” those that get on particular person occasions right here probably give attention to that alone, with exceptions relying on occasion depth.

Reflecting on 20 years masking swimming by means of anniversary ladies ‘dual team’ | Opinion

With all that famous, my twentieth anniversary News-Herald boys swimming and diving group is:

200 medley relay: Austin Quinn, Chagrin Falls (again; 2013); Elijah Spiro, Hawken (breast; 2014); Davis Staley, Chagrin Falls (2011; fly); Dan Nemeth, Mayfield (2010; free)

200 free: Ian Stewart-Bates, University (2009); Micah Simpson, Hawken (2013); Krys Gorski, Andrews Osborne (2024)

200 IM: Austin Quinn, Chagrin Falls (2013); Alex Podrez, Hawken (2021); Ben Davis, University (2024)

50 free: Andrew Malone, University (2011); Chris Nemeth, Mayfield (2008); Zeb Hart, Hawken (2018)

100 fly: Zeb Hart, Hawken (2018); Frank Applebaum, University (2020); Kingsley Bowen, University (2015)

Diving: Jamie Englhardt, Chagrin Falls (2010); Peter Nachtwey, Chagrin Falls (2017); Angus Williams, Hawken (2021); Spencer Bystrom, Beachwood (2019)

100 free: Tyler Bailey, University (2009); Chris Nemeth, Mayfield (2008); Micah Simpson, Hawken (2013)

500 free: Ian Stewart-Bates, University (2009); Jason Quinn, Chagrin Falls (2016); Mike Gaudiani, University (2011)

200 free relay: Jack Faulkner, University (2023); Russell Stack, University (2012); Brody Hicks, Perry (2026); Dan Nemeth, Mayfield (2010)

100 again: Krys Gorski, Andrews Osborne (2024); Owen Hanna, NDCL/University (2019); Nicolas Tekieli, University (2020)

100 breast: Andrew Malone, University (2011); Korey Schneider, University (2011); Zachary Hostoffer, Gilmour (2015)

400 free relay: Henry Senkfor, Hawken (2014); Quinn MacPhail, University (2025); Ethan Banks, University (2019); Matthew Rakovec, Hawken (2017)

• Sprint free was just a little extra bumpy than I anticipated. Andrew Malone and Chris Nemeth had been no-brainers. I entertained Zeb Hart as a medley relay leg for fly as an alternative of fifty free, however it was too laborious to cross up on having a 3rd deep sub-21 man on 50.

• That 100 fly dialog obtained attention-grabbing. Hart and Frank Applebaum had been straightforward selections, and I’d be trusting Hart because the lone swimmer throughout both twin group to swim back-to-back. Kingsley Bowen was the 2015 D-II state champion and a sub-50 performer. Davis Staley was extra useful because the fly leg on 200 medley relay.

• That 500 free minimize … wow, that was robust. Ian Stewart-Bates bridged the period between two divisions and one and was 2009 D-II state champion with 4:31 potential. Jason Quinn did not win a state title, however it’s laborious to argue along with his 4:31 pace. Mike Gaudiani was a two-time D-II state champion — he must be there. But that leaves Austin Quinn and Matthew Rakovec out, which feels harsh. But it simply exhibits the depth of that occasion.

• Speaking of depth, 100 again was one thing else. Due to the sub-49 state-champion tempo that made the minimize, Staley was a two-time D-II state champion and three-time top-four state placer, Bowen was a sub-50 D-II state champion, each can be labeled as all-time protection space greats worthy of swimming multiple occasion on this twin … and so they did not make it on 100 again.

• It must be emphasised: Malone was thus far forward of his time as a sub-21 50 freestyler and sub-56 100 breaststroker from our protection space ranks. As a multiple-time state champion who went on to swim at USC, he is the captain of his twin group so far as I’m involved. By the best way, what a 1-2 100 breast punch he and Schneider had been for US and, by extension, right here. Schneider later swam at Iowa. He and Malone are nonetheless among the many quickest breaststrokers of their faculty’s program historical past as properly.

• Current protection space swimmers did work their method into this dialog, to their utmost credit score. For 100 free, for example, Hawken’s Everett Losch, Gilmour’s P.J. Koerwitz and Perry’s Brody Hicks are all exhibiting sub-46 potential proper now. In the tip, although, I most popular to lean towards swimmers there who, of their period, had that sort of pace in ‘A’ finals at state. Here’s to hoping all of them do that month in Canton. But clearly, that would not issue into this. Hicks, along with his observe report of sub-22 50 free consistency, did earn a spot because the third member of my 200 free relay.

• That 400 free relay is simply brimming with high quality and big-stage prowess. By entrusting that group with final-swim honors, it will have the twin good thing about others specializing in their particular person swims. While there could possibly be an argument of putting extra sprinters on this quartet, I lean extra towards having IM/distance free guys who can think about dropping a hammer there as their one and solely swim.

• I invoked inventive license and took 4 divers. Jamie Englhardt and Angus Williams had been D-II state champions. Nachtwey had two 450-plus scores at state and was D-II state runner-up in 2017. Bystrom was essential serving as a bridge for protection space diving into the following era and was unfortunate to not internet a state title his senior 12 months in 2019. He deserves a spot right here, too.

Researching and compiling this legendary twin group for these final couple weeks, actually above the rest, simply exhibits how lucky I’ve been to have incredible swimmers to cowl in The News-Herald protection space over the past 20 years. So many personalities and tales that go far past state success.

Their caliber, kindness, belief in sharing their journeys — it is one thing that does not wilt, even lengthy after their time in highschool has lengthy since handed.

As was famous final week, this twin won’t ever occur. But it’s entertaining to consider.

And we’d be in nice palms to tackle any and all competitors. Bring it on.